Arena Digest: What would you have asked President Barack Obama during his news conference?
May 28, 2010 04:25 AM EST

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.)

President Obama has an obligation to come forward and disclose who inside his White House talked with Rep. Joe Sestak, what that person said and offered and if the president knew about it. Even if the letter of the law wasn’t violated, the spirit of Obama’s call for change certainly was. I, for one, would like to know if the president condones such tactics, and if not, what is he going to do about it?

Karen Finney, Democratic strategist

Historically, efforts to crack down on the employers — most of whom are business leaders who tend to contribute to political parties, in particular the GOP — have been watered down in the legislative process. Does your administration view cracking down on employers as an important part of comprehensive immigration reform, and if so, what will you do to ensure tougher measures are not watered down in Congress?

Dana Perino, former White House press secretary

It’ll be interesting to see how the reporters work together — without collaboration — to get some frank answers and to cover a lot of ground.

Grover Norquist, president, Americans for Tax Reform

During the campaign, you said, “No family making less than $250,000 will see any form of tax increase.” You have broken that pledge several times already. When you lie your way into office, does this perhaps lead to reduced respect for politicians and the institutions of state?

Your attempts to gain bipartisan support for your legislative agenda have been repeatedly rejected by congressional Republicans. In your zeal to win even a solitary GOP vote, you have bargained away key provisions, such as the public option in the health care bill. Once all this damage was done, they still voted a unanimous no and the American people got watered-down reform. Is that administration policy going to change?

Kristin Lord, vice president and director of studies, Center for a New American Security

Obama’s new national security strategy relies on allies and partners around the world to assume greater burdens on stronger civilian agencies able to employ diplomacy and development more effectively and on the United States to invest in its own future. Yet, in each of these areas, there are daunting obstacles to overcome. What plans does your administration have in place to translate your vision into a true strategy — one that lays out the specific ways and means necessary to achieve your vision?

Diane Ravitch, historian of education, New York University and Brookings Institution

Certain ideas have come out of conservative think tanks in the past decade, such as charter schools, testing and judging teachers by their students’ test scores. How did these conservative ideas become the foundation for the Obama education agenda?

Dean Baker, co-director, Center for Economic and Policy Research

Is a world in which the wealthy can inflict enormous damage on society with impunity — while ordinary people face harsh penalties for much more minor infractions — consistent with your vision of America? Is this your image of America?

Diana Furchtgott-Roth, senior fellow, Hudson Institute

You said that health care costs would go down if health legislation were passed. But now companies are raising costs because the new mandates, such as leaving adult children on parents’ plans, are expensive. Which is it — will health reform raise or lower costs to Americans?